A passion for health through the food you eat

Cellulite formation has many aspects which could be connected to sluggish circilation and the leaking of blood and lymph vessels due to the weakening of connective tissue. This can cause fat to bulge out more and give the dimpled effect. Women have different tissue structures to men – female septae tissue is mesh like and holds onto fat cells (important in reproduction) men’s are smooth and don’t hold onto as much fat.

The factors involved are:

The contraceptive pill – can cause excess oestrogen, which is designed by nature to cause weakening of connective tissue to facilitate birth.

Excess oestrogen, can also cause the body to build fat up in certain areas around thighs, breasts and buttocks- due to preparation for reproduction and breast feeding. The reason why men don’t normally get cellulite.

Damaged blood and lymph tissue can cause a build up of free radicals (toxins), which then cause more damage to connective tissue. This can also cause water retention so exacerbating the dimpled effect.

Damage to fibroblast cells which produce the connective tissue can cause the fat cells to be coated with an impenetrable protein layer, this can prevent circulation and removal of the fat cells.

Toxins are stored by the body in the fat cells so they do not do further damage, during detoxification process – it is important to support getting the toxins out of the body quickly to prevent cell damage.

Both lack of exercise and over exertion can cause cellulite – the former due to sluggish circulation and the latter due to damage and tightening of muscle tissue that does not allow the fat to escape.

Reducing cellulite

It appears that it is not possible to completely eradicate cellulite – even liposuction won’t stop it from forming again. However making dietary changes, increasing nutrients and using food supplements to target circulation can help reduce it and prevent further cellulite forming. Foods containing Indoles (I3C) like cabbage can help reduce the toxic affect of excess oestrogen. Raw or very lighlty cooked.

Anti oxidants, Bioflavonoids and Vitamin C (at least 200omg of the buffered form ) are vital for healthy connective tissue. Gentle detoxification is also needed – this you can do through dietary changes, more fluid intake, and exercise – especially Yoga. Hot baths, saunas and steam rooms are all recommended.

Some literature suggests that getting too hot on the inside from over exertion in exercise can force some fat out of cells making it unable to be burnt up in metabolism, and stopping it from being removed – especially if you have poor circulation of lymph. Exercise like Yoga stretches out every muscle and joint creating better circulation.

Some products also claim to get rid of cellulite – most of them if they are good will just smooth the skin.

Strain butter beans add to pan on low heat. Add tomato puree, splash of olive oil,stir in, add a little water and then add the turmeric and seasoning. Stir until heated through but not over cooked.

Serve with watercress. You can add a dressing if you like but the flavours are so clean and strong you don’t really need to. If you want to make a more substantial lunch, toast some home-made brown Rice and Gram Flour flaxseed bread (recipe to follow this)

Turmeric has been used for thousands of years to support all round health and studies have shown that the extract from turmeric called curcumin is the part that plays a huge role in reducing inflammation.

I try to use turmeric everyday, and find ways to get it into my cooking and food prep.There are many ways to do this. You can also Take a supplement of the extract curcumin, which does help avoid the yellow fingers!

I made a bone broth and vegetable soup laced with turmeric for a friend who had an injury that required good nutrition for bone and joint healing. She loved the soup but wasn’t so sure about the yellow tongue. To me this just assured me that the curcumin was really getting into her tissues.

You can buy organic Turmeric from “BuyWholeFoodsOnline” https://goo.gl/jNPzWz, which may be a little cheaper as you can buy in larger amounts.
You can also buy the extract curcumin in food supplement form from health stores.

The British Journal of Nutrition has published an article created by experts who tested Organic versus Non-organic. Their findings on why organic is in fact better than non-organic is very positive. It at last puts forward the case that has been argued by people who care about what they put in their bodies, the environment and animal welfare: Organic is better for you than non-organic. There are so many reasons to buy organic:

Strawberries should always be organic due to how many pesticides are used on non-organic and cannot be washed off.

You will know what’s in your food as it has to be approved to have the organic certification.

Fraction of the pesticide use, and would not use any pesticides that harm Bees or other Wildlife

Genetically Modified (GM) foods are completely banned.

Combats climate change by the farming methods used.

Supports ethical farming and animal welfare.

But from a Nutritional point of view organic foods:

Are higher in nutrients due to quality of the soil.

Do not contain the amount of toxins that no-organic foods can contain.

“Tackling Climate Change with Sustainable food systems”, is the Chatham House report on climate change, that has been created by The Royal Institute of Internal Affairs to persuade politicians to “Put Meat on the Climate Negotiating Table”.

Grass fed organically reared beef cattle – Duchy Farm

There has been so much in the press over the years about climate change. Most of it has been warnings about carbon emissions from vehicles, homes and industry. Rarely does any of the coverage mention the importance of food and your diet.

I was invited by the Soil Association to attend the Square Meal debate at Westminster Hall, where farming and food production were discussed in some detail. I am taking some of the main points of the report and looking at it from a nutritional point of view.

Hopefully my approach will give you a clearer understanding of how by buying into the main message which is to EAT LESS MEAT, you can help to reduce carbon emissions, and actually improve your health and the health of your family. Grass fed cattle are better for you and produce much less carbon emissions due to grazing rather than consuming intensely farmed non-organic GM crops that take enormous amount of resource and water to produce.

Grain fed cows use up more of the world’s resources and account for much of the carbon emissions. They have less animal welfare and the meat can contain antibiotics and hormones.

We (the British people) have a target to reduce carbon emissions that was set in the Paris agreement in 2015 and agreed by all European Member Countries to reduce carbon emissions by 40% by 2030. That is only 14 years. It is a lot to achieve. But it is vital that we all stick to it as the aim is to stop the earth’s temperature rising by 2 degrees, which is the point of no return. There is another target that by 2050 the EU will have reduced carbon emission by 80-95%.
This could well be the main reason we stay in Europe. Forget all the other issues this dwarfs them all.

Why is the way we eat so important?

There are two very compelling interconnected reasons to change your diet:

The debate “Square Meal” was chaired by Professor Tim Benton who is the “Champion” for the UK’s Global Food Security Programme. It was based around the vision of a group of contributors, using their expert knowledge, have come together to make recommendations on what they believe will make the biggest difference, facilitating the carbon reduction that the planet so desperately needs.

The speakers were: Laura Wellesley from Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs) Guy Watson (Organic Farmer) from Riverford Organics and Martin Nesbit from IEEP (Institute of European Environmental Policy)

Laura Wellesley from Chatham House laid out the report dealing with the specific area of agriculture and meat consumption. It does not make comfortable reading. I am not a big meat-eater, my diet consists mostly of plant-based foods, but even I will make personal changes to support this campaign.

In a nutshell this quote sums up the enormity of the situation we find ourselves in:

“The production and consumption of meat is a major driver of climate change. Already, the livestock sector contributes 15 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions – equivalent to exhaust fumes from all the world’s vehicles. By 2050, global meat consumption is expected to rise by 75 per cent: even with ambitious mitigation to lower the emissions intensity of livestock production the world over, the increase in consumption will eat up a huge slice of the remaining carbon budget.

The upshot is that, without a significant reduction in global meat-eating, keeping global warming below two degrees will be nearly impossible. Tackling unsustainable meat consumption is therefore a necessity. It should also be seen as key opportunity for win-win policy-making.”

The MPs in the room became decidedly uncomfortable as they realised that this would not be an easy message to take to the British public because they say: 1. It is unfair to expect people, that can’t afford it, to change to a healthier diet, and 2. Farmers will lose out and not want to change. The truth is:

The majority of people can afford to eat meat and I think it is empowering for people to know that they can easily do something to really help immediately by eating less.

Governments MUST support the organic farming system more and less support for those that use toxic chemicals.

Organic does not need the vast amounts of expensive phosphorus fertilisers – which are running out! (another time bomb) and ultimately it would be cheaper to farm organically if the playing field of government subsidies was level.

Why is eating less meat good for your health?

The meat story is a bit like the salt story. We need protein to survive, as we do salt, we would die without it. But now most people in the western world over consume it and just like excessive salt, it is bad for your health. But unlike salt, over consuming meat is bad for the planet!

We need “adequate” amounts of protein to be healthy, and that protein needs to contain all the essential amino acids. for every tissue and cell in our body. It is so vital for our immune function, our energy and our well-being in so many ways. It is why being a nutritionally educated Vegetarian or Vegan is so important.

What is “enough” protein?

If you work your weight out in kilos, as a general rule 0.8g per kilo is around what you need

to consume a day. Example: 75 kilo person needs between 45g-60g of depending on how physically active they are and what their muscle ratio is. A 3oz serving of meat or seafood is 20-28g this is smaller than you may think – equivalent to a small deck of cards.

Pulses (cooked) contain around 8g protein per cup. Eggs 6-8g depending on size and nuts and seeds around 4g-8g depending on type. Vegetables and whole grains also contain protein, so over the day you can see that eating moderate portions will supply plenty of protein for the average person. Pregnant women and athletes need more protein than the average person.

Animal versus Plant protein – what are the pro and cons?

Animal Protein:

Pros:

Contains all essential amino acids (building blocks of all our tissues and cells)

When over eaten it is acid forming so creates acidic blood – robbing your bones of minerals to alkalise the blood and weakening them.

Overeating meat in one meal causes undigested protein into the intestines, as this sits there it releases toxins that are detrimental to all aspects of health. (there is only so much stomach acid, and this is not enough to digest large amounts of animal protein in one go)

If the ecology of good bacteria is out of balance (this is true in many people due to Western diet and antibiotics) the meat is poorly digested in the gut, causing sluggish digestion and a toxic environment – especially as we age.

Plant Protein

Pros

Contains protein in different levels. Some are higher certain amino acids, so these can be used to affect imbalances.

Contains “phytonutrients” – such as polyphenols, Indole 3 carbinole, Flavonoids, Carotenoids, Lignans, Isoflavonoids, Curcuminoids, Tanins, Chlorophylls, beta-glucans. These are some of the most health-promoting things you can eat.

Contains two types of fibre – cellulose being the one that feeds our “Good” bacteria and helps produces vital nutrients. Soluble fibre that binds to toxins and helps remove them from the body.

Contain many minerals and vitamins vital to optimal health and protection against disease and chronic health issues.

Contains enzymes to help break food down.

Cons

Less easily digested and utilised by the body

In general, does not contain all the essential amino acids in one food and needs to be carefully combined.

If not organically grown may lack nutrients and cause deficiencies.

High in phytic acid which binds to minerals and can block calcium in large amounts (phytase digestive enzyme neutralises the affect) phytic acid is cancer protective though.

What is “excess” protein?

Many servings of meat can be 7-12oz that would be 60g-120g of protein in one meal! Other protein eaten during the day can be: Eggs on their own and in other foods. Cheese, milk and yoghurt, ice cream and other deserts. Cold meats, pastes and fillings, grains, vegetables and pulses. That could quite easily add up to 100-200g of protein, depending on portion.

58% of people eat out at least once a week, and spend more money eating out than they do on groceries. Eating out normally means a starter that can be a meat portion, then a main meat portion, and then a dairy protein portion as a dessert.

On average the Western diet has from 3 to 5 times more protein than is needed for health, and the developing countries are catching up. Countries that were predominantly vegetarian are eating more and more poor quality meat and dairy.

What are the physical effects in the body of over consumption of animal protein?

Excess protein converts to sugar then fat.
The process of breaking the protein down creates nitrogen waste which must be removed from the body and excess protein consumption stresses the kidneys. This causes systemic dehydration and can eventually can cause kidney damage and even gout, an arthritic condition caused by excess uric acid in the blood.

Over eating meat and dairy can trigger immune conditions like eczema and asthma, arthritis and other chronic conditions – especially animal products that have been reared on GM grain and soya in cramped conditions and treated with hormones and antibiotics. If you know you eat more than “adequate” and you suffer from any of these conditions, try eating less meat and dairy – you may be surprised at the difference.

The excess phosphorus in the protein triggers the body to have to rebalance minerals therefore leaching calcium from bones, which weakens them.

Consuming excessive protein stimulates a pathway called mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) Decreased mTOR activity in the body promotes health and can increase life span as well as protect against cancer and disease. Consuming more protein than the body needs stimulates mTOR and increases the risk of disease and cancer as well as speeding up the aging process.

Short fasting diets that are devoid of all protein can inhibit mTOR and regularly done can increase health and wellbeing. Choosing to eat much less meat will also promote this.

Eating less but higher quality meat, should not mean spending more. Or if it does you are supporting a system that is good for animals, the planet and your future health.

Eating more healthily (less meat) would actually mean spending less on food. Even if people do not want to buy organic – you can still eat more healthily by choosing less meat and more vegetables. More Non GM pulses and whole grains – therefore more nutrients, more fibre.

Higher quality meat will is less toxic and more nutritious due to eating grass or more natural foods.

Mass produced animals might not see the light of day and they will be fed grains like Maize and Soya which is not their natural diet. These feeds are intensely farmed and the use of pesticides and fertilizer is having such a profoundly toxic effect on the environment via the soil and the plant. Insects, bees, butterflies and birds are simply dying off due to poisoning by farmers and gardeners! it is not sustainable – the ecosystem is in dire need of rebalancing. There is only one answer whether we like it or not and that is to change the way the land is farmed and to change the way we eat.

So by reducing your meat intake, eating higher quality, grass-fed, organic animal product in smaller affordable amounts – you will be doing something to support your health, animal welfare and support the health of the environment.

And very importantly will send a message that you are no longer willing to support products that damage your health and the environment.

Why is Organic better for the planet?

Organic farming means not buying mountains of chemical fertiliser or toxic seeds from Monsanto. Organic farming fixes nitrate in the soil and allows more CO2 to be absorbed. Organic farming doesn’t use the pesticides that destroy the bees, insects and the bird’s food and habitat.

For many years we Nutritional Therapists have banged on about sugar being one of the most detrimental substances, still classed as a food, that you can put into your body.

The discussion about sugar and calls to increase taxes on sugary foods is growing. It has been all over the news today, it was discussed on many chat shows and Jamie Oliver has strongly suggested an age warning be put on high sugar drinks, which is entirely right and he should be commended. Will the goverment act?

The fact that sugar is “BAD,” is now in the public psyche. For the last few years the media have been cranking up the message, but do people believe know just how bad it is? Do you? It’s fairly obvious that nearly everybody does not believe that sugar is that bad for them or there would be an overnight drop in the sale of all things sugary.

So who is it that sugar is BAD for, if it’s not you?

There is no doubt that scientifically, medically and nutritionally, refined sugars and carbohydrates are the root cause of obesity and related diseases.

But did you know that eating sugar or refined carbs regularly can have a detrimental effect on health of your good gut bacteria (flora) and therefore digestion and immune function. Sugar feeds undesirable microbes and as these microbes feed on sugar they release toxins into the blood and affect your immune response causing widespread inflammation and your general wellbeing. The more sugar you eat the more the ‘bad’ gut bacteria, yeast and fungi thrive. Good flora thrives on plant fibre, not sugar. We need the healthy flora as it is vital for the proper breakdown of foods, and the production of many substances that keep us healthy.

Sugar also feeds cancers and tumours, it causes systemic inflammation and creates a dangerous environment in the body. It has a huge effect on our mental wellbeing afterall sugar is a drug, it acts on our opiate receptors making us feel good for a short while, it wears off once our insulin response has kicked in and then we want more sugar or refined carbs. The cycle goes on.

It also has a huge effect on hormone balance: when your doctor says that sugar does not give you spots, ask them to explain the hormonal response to sugar. It can sap our energy even though it is pure energy, our bodies cannot no use the sugar unless we are constantly active –even then there is a price to pay for all the by products of burning too much energy. Sugar cannot stay in the blood it must be stored – sugar creates more fat in the body than eating fat!

Consuming sugar can also cause nutrient deficiencies as the body uses many nutrients in it’s effort to protect itself from a sugar onslaught.

Now here’s a question: Now you know all this, will you still consume sugary foods? Will you still let your kids consume sugary foods and drinks?

The truth is, no matter how much we try to stop our children consuming sugar when we are with them, all their friends have it and they influence each other. They are marketed to and targeted by the sugary foods companies It would take a huge collective effort to reduce the amount of sugar in children’s diet and the government needs to be hard hitting about sugar and the manufacturers because that’s where action is desperately needed.

We get kids addicted using fruit juice and fruit products at an early stage of their lives, giving them a taste for sugar and it’s almost impossible to give up. It is sadly sinister the way parents are lured into buying high sugar products for their very young babies, frustose and highly concentrated fruit products are NOT the answer to the “5 aday”.

Here is a list of the high sugar foods that we consume everyday:

Fruit juice

Cereals – with the exception of unrefined grains like oats, millet, buckwheat and brown rice products (unless they are high refined) Many mueslis claim to be healthy but these can contain more sugar per 100g than a chocolate bar!

Yogurt – even a fruity one has added sugar – choose natural organic full fat.

Smoothies – many smoothies even the freshly made ones contain so much sugar, it could have more than a fizzy drink!

And many more. It is quite incredible how much sugar is in our diet. The good news is that if you make the commitment to reduce sugar, it can be done. It will take a while and your tastes will change, you will find that your taste buds may get more sensitive to the natural flavours of healthy foods, like a carrot for example – they are actually quite sweet and can be a great substitute when you fancy something sweet.
There are now many natural sweeteners like Stevia, even using the sweeter sugars like Rapa Dura is better as you use less and it’s full of nutrients and not so ’empty’. The best way to treat sugar is as it always was treated 100s of year ago – as an occasional treat!

Please see the link for a blog I wrote 3 years ago on the threat of sugar to health. https://goo.gl/uI7mTp

Please be aware: The information and advice provided in this website is nota substitute for medical advice. If you are concerned about your health orhave any symptoms you should see your GP/healthcare provider.

Connie Carrot, Sammy Spinach, Billy Blueberry, Ava Avocado, Benjamin Broccoli and Penelope Pea are all printed and ready to go out and plant seeds of health in young children. All they need is their imagination (and someone to buy them the books!)

Fussy eating or picky eating can be every parent’s nightmare when it comes to meal times. There is even a name for avoiding eating new foods:‘Food Neo Phobia’, which can be a survival instinct left over from days when humans didn’t know if a food was good or poisonous.

Children in general base their choices of foods on taste and familiarity. Introducing, or reintroducing a food differently in the way that I have tried in my books can mean they will start eating it through choice, and understand why they should eat it. It’s much more likely they will decide to keep healthy foods in their diet if they understand that a food can have a beneficial affect on them.

For example: the minerals in spinach can help grow strong healthy bones and muscles, Sammy Spinach brings this to life as he realises that he will get stronger and one day be able to lift the things that he finds too heavy.

There are so many health benefits to the fresh and natural foods that are available to us and our children, for the sake of their future health it is so important to teach them and encourage them to eat these foods.

The books each take a nutritional health element from the themed food and a very simple but engaging story is told about how Sammy Spinach or Connie Carrot learn about that food in a way that they can really relate to. For example Ava Avocado is worried about a spelling test and her mum tells her about avocados and how they can support her brain and help her to learn and remember. All the books contain nutritional facts important for parents to understand, facts about the food, recipes and a grow your own page.

There are many ways to increase your child’s nutritional intake, using fresh vegetables, fruits and natural foods as a tool is one of the best ways to achieve this. I know any parents out there already know this and are bending over backwards to get vegetables into their kid’s foods choices, my books are to make this job a bit easier and hopefully more fun.

The books are available on from my NutriKids online shop: nutrikids.co
You can follow NutriKids on Twitter – @nutrikidsco and on Instagram – nutrikidsco – I would love some new followers.

With reference to today’s headline food News in the British
press and Media on Fat.

Don’t get carried away and think you can eat whatever you want – Oh no that is not what today’s news means, the press of course have sensationalised it. They’ve created drama where there isn’t any. Nothing has changed – it’s just that the medical profession is catching up with the science.

Nutritional therapists on the other hand are well ahead of doctors in this. We have been saying fat is good, sugar and carbs are bad, for years. There are many fats that are NOT good for you – but these are not the normal natural fats that the medical profession and manufacturers have convinced people over the last 3 decades or more to avoid.
Saturated fat is a normal requirement of the human body. It helps give us more energy and makes us more satiated (feel full) than carbohydrates. It is sugar and carbs that get turned into and stored as fat in the body. It is the carbs without fats that cause blood sugar imbalances and create problems. We NEED fat – it is vital for health.

Fats are concentrated source of energy.

Carries and transports the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.

Helps the body use protein and carbohydrates more efficiently.

A component of every cell wall.

Deposits of fat in the body serve to support and cushion vital organs, and to provide insulation.

The body’s chief storage form for energy and work.

Carries the compounds that give foods their aroma and flavor.

Cholesterol is vital for making hormones and Vitamin D (which actually is a hormone named wrongly)

Can determine the amount of inflammation there is in the body.

Overeating it, for example fatty fry up is NOT what is being recommended. These are damaged, toxic BAD fats – and should only be eaten every now and again

These are the fats to consume:

Butter – in moderation (Goats butter has much less cholesterol)Olive oil – try not to use old olive oil that’s been sitting around for monthsAvocado and avocado oilNut oils, Seed Oils, nuts and seeds – but make sure not old – keep in fridgeFlax oil – High content of Omega3 – helps keep blood thin, very good for skin and contains good natural estrogens. Coconut oil/butter – Make sure cold pressed and not heated (the fat in coconut milk should be eaten only in moderation)RapeseedSesameWalnutSunFlowerEggs – contrary to popular belief eggs are good for you- the organic version will have higher content of good fats as the chicken’s feed and life is higher quality.Oliy fish – in moderation (due to heavy metal content)Meat – in moderation.Dairy – in moderation.

If you have been fat free for a while , you may find your digestion take a while to get used to it, reduce intake if any problems. Over eating fat can put a heavy demand on the liver and digestion, and if you have had your gall bladder removed be very careful of your fat intake and consult your doctor.